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How does CXC grade your exam papers ?

Submitted by Kathy-ann Daniel
on 8 August 2009 - 12:07am

So really, how does CXC grade your exam papers?

As everyone who sat CXC exams this year bites their nails and waits nervously for results to "come out", an interesting discussion has come up. How, exactly, does CXC decide what grade a student receives?

My problem with this, is that grading on a bell or normal curve been discredited a looong time ago. Not only that, CXC on its website describes, "performance standards" that students must attain in order to get a grade 1, 2, 3 or whatever. Now, in the jargon or lingo of education, once you say, "performance standards", you are talking about criterion-referenced testing.

Basically then, when CXC says there are "performance standards" you must meet to get a grade 1, it means that you are not being graded against other students who are sitting the exams at the same time as you. Rather, you are being graded against a 'standard' set by CXC for grade 1, 2, 3 and so on.

GRADE I: Candidate shows a comprehensive grasp of the key concepts, knowledge, skills and competencies
required by the syllabus.

GRADE II: Candidate shows a good grasp of the key concepts, knowledge, skills and competencies
required by the syllabus.

GRADE III: Candidate shows a fairly good grasp of the key concepts, knowledge, skills and abilities
required by the syllabus.

GRADE IV: Candidate shows a moderate grasp of the key concepts, knowledge, skills and competencies
required by the syllabus.

GRADE V: Candidate shows a limited grasp of the key concepts, knowledge, skills and competencies
required by the syllabus.

GRADE VI: Candidate shows a very limited grasp of the key concepts, knowledge, skills and competencies
required by the syllabus.

You will notice that I have underlined the key words for each grade. These are the only words that change in describing the performance for each grade. Check it for yourself: all the other words are the same.

So, according to CXC, the difference between a grade 4 and a grade 1 is how much the examiners believe you understand the subject.

This, people, is criterion-referenced testing. And it means that your grade is not connected in any way to what other people do in the exam. It is connected to how well you perform, relative to the tasks set in the exams.

The way I see it, win, lose or draw, the only person who affects your grade is you. I don't know if this is comforting news to anyone, but at least I hope it helps those students who are spending too much time comparing themselves to "the bright one in de class". News flash: "wha' dey get, ain' ha' nuttin' tuh do wid you".

De results man!!!

On another note, I wish success to all those students who are awaiting results. I know the waiting is hard... but it is almost over. In two weeks, results will be released and you can start preparing for the next phase of your life.

Don't forget, the CXC exam results have to go first to your local Ministry of Education, which will want to collect data for statistics from them. Then they will go to your schools, which will keep them for a day or two to collect data as well, before you finally receive them.

So, for many of you, you will not get your results on the 17th of August. You can expect that you may get them a week or even 2 weeks after that. Sorry if I am bearing bad news, but at least you will be prepared for the wait.

cud someone plz tel me why people underestimate cxc range 3? i mean, from range 1 to 3 are the accepted grades so wats d criticism for? yeah i know we cud work harder but at least its better than a range 4,5 or 6. look, i got 5 range 3s and am proud as i had no intention that i would pass them so screw all the criticizers!! hmmm smh!!

hello ,
I sat human and social biology in Jan, 2014 . My results was a grade (4) . I beleive the marker was not fair . Would it be worth it if I appeal for a review ? I get a (B) in knowledge and understanding and (E) in use of knowledge .

hey I'm here crying now because I think I got less than a 1 , I completed all compulsory questions (not sure if some are right ) but only did 1 optional question ,I feel as if Igot a 100 or high 90 in paper too , do you think I got a one? and what is the percentage needed for a 1?

I sat the 2014 cxc exam but guess what..I failed most chem labs, and I also failed paper 1 and 2...and I mistakenly left out a section on my enlish A paper 2...now what grades do I expect? Ungraded and range 3? Am soo concerned about my results .sigh!.